K.M. Jackson's Blog, page 34

Going Clubbing…

So what do I have in common with EL James, Meg Wolitzer & Thomas Hardy? Stop laughing, this is going somewhere people. You see as it now turns out all of our books have been read by the fantastic ladies of the Super “A” Reading and Cultural Society. Now that’s really not their name, it’s just a name I made up, I could also call them The Magnificent  Literary 7 or maybe the Lit Spice Girls, I kind of like the ring of that too. Either way they are just great and they were kind enough to break into their regularly scheduled programming to read Through The Lens and invite me to speak at their monthly gathering.

I can’t tell you all how nervous I was, going in for my very first book club chat, but these kind ladies made me feel right at home. Turns out they had all read the book and from the feeling I pick up, liked it.  They asked fantastic questions about the characters, motivation, the way I craft a story and touched on some inside industry things, all of which I hope I gave coherent answers too. Hey, you never know with me.

 

 I got a wonderful insight into their reading habits and I was surprised at how many of them read on their phones, oh my poor eyes, but for sure the digital age is here to stay. We talked new and old books, favorite authors and genres and in the end I left with some gorgeous flowers and a magnificent group of 7 new friends. Oh yes, I’m a lucky girl indeed! And next they are on to a book that couldn’t be more of a shift from TTL … To Kill A Mockingbird. Really? Me, the opening act for Harper Lee who woulda thunk  it?

 

All the best,

KMJ

The In Between

Good day lovelies. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend. So now here we are. Right smack in the beginning of the crazy patch between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Time to deck the halls, get your shop on, really all this means is time to WORK.

For some of us it’s all the final week of NanoWrimo. Best of luck to all of you who were doing Nano this month. I hope you are nearing the end of your 50,000 words. I was doing my own “Not quite Nano” which didn’t quite pan out. But that’s ok, I still have this week and I’m not giving up just yet.

 

What are you doing with your In between time?

 

All the best,

KMJ

 

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Oh Hoppy Day…

Hello Lovelies! I hope all of you who celebrated Thanksgiving had a great one. Me? I ate way too much. Did any of you go out for some wild and whacky Black Friday shopping? If you did I’d love to hear how that went. I actually thought about it but cooler heads prevailed and by 10pm I was in my bed checking out Random.org and drawing a winner for my part in the Crimson Wonderland blog hop.

Without further ado the winner is …. Shannon G. Thanks so much for your comment Shannon. I sure hope you get to the Seychelles one day. I’d love to go myself. In the meantime let’s look on this pic and dream. I will email you with details about your gift card Congrats!

 

Thanks so much to the rest of you who entered. Your names are all being passed along for the grand prizes in the Wonderland blog hop. Best of luck!

 

Have a happy.

All the best,

KMJ

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Talking Turkey

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

It’s always so much fun talking turkey with you all! To all my American peeps have a wonderful Thanksgiving! And wherever you are please remember to take time to enjoy laughter and good old turkey talk with those that you care for and give thanks for all the blessings you have.

 

All the best,

KMJ

 

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Bowling Along!

So this fabulousness happened at bowling yesterday… A lovely woman named Kim brought my book in to be signed! 1st time ever!

That’s me with the shaky hands and the huge grin. The poor women must have thought I was crazy with the way I hugged her, but I couldn’t help myself, I was just so honored that she would 1) order the book and then 2) want me to sign it. What? That is something that I thought was just for other writers. I tell you I just about bowled myself down the lane.

Then shock of all shockers… I got out of my below 100 bowling slump. I must be on a roll for sure. Whee!!

 

Happy Monday! Did you enter the Wonderland Blog Hop Giveaway this weekend? Great prizes. Go Here and enter. Please don’t miss out!

 

All the best,

KMJ

Let’s Go to The Hop!

Not that kind of hop it’s a Blog Hop to a Crimson Wonderland! The Crimson authors are taking you away to a Crimson Wonderland with dozens of giveaways and 3 grand prizes!! One Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift certificate for $100!!! And two gift certificates for $50 each!!

Every blog comment you leave during the hop is entered into a draw to win one of the grand prizes. So please don’t just stop here. Visit all the participating blogs and leave comments for your chance at a grand prize also!

So what are we getting all hopped up about? Well, the Crimson authors what to know: When you read a book, do you feel like you’ve escaped to another world?

I know when I read I sure want to feel like I’ve escaped for a while even if that book is set in the here and now. I love a book that takes me away from my every day even if it’s just for the few brief moments here and there that sometimes have to steal away to read when life gets a little hectic.

That escape to another world feeling is what I hope I achieved when I took Mika and Alejandro to their almost deserted island paradise in Through The Lens. Who knows maybe at the time I was in need of a little island getaway myself. The sun on my back and sand in my toes. It was a cold winter when I was writing Through The Lens and at the time it was sure fun to imagine warm tropical breezes drifting across glistening skin as the threat of December snow was right outside my door.

Tell me what are some of your favorite escape destinations? Is it the tropics or the big city? Do you like to go back in time? Or is a futuristic fantasy world more your speed? Please share. One lucky commenter will win a 20.00 Amazon or B&N Gift card! U.S. & CA residents only. Winner will be announced on November 23nd. Please leave your email in the contacts so that I can get in touch with you in case you win. Thanks!

Now please go and visit the other fab Crimson Authors for your chance at more great prizes and more chances at the grand prize!

 

All the best,

K.M.J

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Keeping up?

Do you ever feel like you just can’t keep up with it all? I know I sure do. Like the fact that Thanksgiving is in 1 week away. Who the heck went and snuck that one in, in what feel to me is week early? Is it just me feeling this way? Oh my goodness! The stores are already filled with the 12 days of Christmas and I’ve barely taken down my decorations from The Halloween that Sandy forgot. It’s all a hot mish mash of a mess around here. I’m sure my kids will be home in two days to say, what have you been up to mom? And my answer will be just living with the day to day.

 

All that to say, in between the living with the day to day and to bringing this thing around to being a little bookish as I’m often to do, I have a question: Do you do Goodreads?

 

Goodreads is a fantastic site for readers and a great place to share books recommendations. I’m on there and have been since way before Through the Lens. I find it a great tool to keep up with what I’m reading and have read since honestly, I can’t remember what I had for dinner 2 nights ago. Go and check it out. I’m hosting my first Goodreads giveaway since Through the Lens is now out in paperback so please feel free to enter if you like. Just click on the link in my sidebar to your right >>>>>> and you’re there!

It’s a fun site and a great way to keep up. Now back to this Thanksgiving deal…Are you ready?

All the best,

KMJ

 

P.S. Hint! Hint! Please come back on the weekend for the start of the Crimson Wonderland Blog Hop. HUGE Prizes!! Lots of great things happening starting this weekend with the Crimson Romance authors. Look to your left at the pretty blue square. <<<<<<<

 

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Signed With Love…

Last night I waited impatiently for my DH to come home while the package sat on the table. It was there and I was going crazy! But still, I waited and waited as I was afraid to open it alone. Who knows it may have jumped out and bit me or something. Better to have a bit of back up. Or I might have fainted dead away and I don’t think Jack is one of those wonder dogs, you know, all inclined to dial 911 when things get sticky. More likely than not, he’d use my body as a handy stepping stool to the table where he’d be that much closer to his treats. But I’m now off course as you all know I’m often to be. Let’s get back to where I was waiting. And waiting.

Then finally he came home, looked at me on the couch and said, “you’re still up?”

“I was waiting to open my package. I think my book is here and I don’t want to open it alone.”

He threw down his bag and said, “well what are you waiting for? Open it,”all the while excitedly going for his camera phone. I frowned, because by then I was looking a hot mess but inside I was grinning.

Then it was open. We were wide eyed. There it is. A book. A bit smaller than I thought for all those words I made up. I shrug. Guess it turns out, I really can edit. The cover is smooth and cool to the touch. I flip through. No pages upside down. All seems good.  We kissed and hugged and laughed. Yay! My name is on the spine. Holla.

But then there is another package to open. You see I ordered my book to see how it would turn out, but as I was doing that my DH was ordering his own copy and now I had my first book that needed an autograph.  And this one was signed with love. So worth the wait.

 

All the best,

KMJ

 

P.S. you can get your smooth paper edition of Through the Lens here. Now in 2 handy dandy versions. Pick your pleasure!

Feeling Careless…

…On this cold Tuesday afternoon, but George’s suit and hair are helping me to focus my thoughts. I’m also writing a whole different script for this video in my head all these years later. Way more fun!

 

 

All the best,

KMJ

Good Girls Bite

Happy Monday. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Thank you for the well wishes on Through The lens becoming available in print now as well as digital. It really is a dream come true and I can’t wait to hold my copy in my hot little hands. I’ve got mine on order and my fingers are itching with anticipation.

Today I’m over that the wonderful Angela Kay Austin’s Romancing the Pen talking about one of my favorite subjects, Romance heroines with a bit of a strong edge in Good Girls Bite.

Please come on over to Angela’s place and chime in with your opinion and one lucky person will win a digital copy of Through The Lens!

Have a great one.

 

All the best,

Kwana

 

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